Johnny Rockets!

On Saturday, while the family and I were downtown, we decided to eat at this new place that opened along Dundas and Yonge called Johnny Rockets. According to Steve, they’re a chain and quite popular in the States but I’ve never been in any of them. I’m not too crazy about burgers but since my dad really wanted to try it, I gave in.

As soon as we entered the place, I was instantly amused. It was classic! I loved the Juke Box, the old Soda machine, old-style Coke glasses, stainless counters and old-style diner decor. The servers were super friendly and they even did a dance number when the Donna Summer’s Last Dance came on the Juke Box! It was soooo CUTE!

Anyhow, here are some of the photos I took of the place... my apologies if they’re a bit fuzzy since I only used my phone camera to take these...

My brother holding the menu

A view of the restaurant and that's our server (her name's Lola) walking away from us

Little Juke Box on our table (there's a bigger one that actually plays music)

Old-style Coke glasses!

Stainless counters

Productive weekend

I had a really productive weekend and I feel better knowing that we got so much done in a span of two days.

On Saturday, my parents, brothers and I went downtown to shop for suits, shirts and ties (for the civil ceremony), khakis and slacks (for the beach wedding) and swimming clothes (for our stay in Dominican). I thought we’d have a hard time looking for suits but it turned out really well. Not only were we able to find nice suits for the boys but they were really affordable too. I was so happy that we got them on sale and ended up saving a lot of money. The boys look so sharp in suits! I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of them using my phone camera. The only complaint I had about the whole thing was how long it took. It took us about 3-4 hours just to shop for suits and shirts. Miguel was so adamant about wearing a green shirt with his suit so I had to look for a nice shade of green and a matching tie. JR was easier to shop for because he didn’t really have a preference and liked pretty much anything I handed to him.

After the boys bought clothes, Steve came by and picked me up and then we headed over to Square One in Mississauga to look at the linen suits he saw last week. His best man (also best friend and cousin) met us there and we saw three different kinds of linen suits. Out of the three kinds, the Calvin Klein ones fit them the best and they were the color we wanted so we decided to get them. They were also able to find matching shirts and ties to go with it so that was good.

There are still a few more items we need to get like dresses for my mom (one for the civil ceremony and one for the beach wedding), a bathing suit for her, sandals, etc. We also still need to check with our bank to see if we can get travel insurance from them for a lesser amount of money compared to getting it from the travel agent.
We also still need to book the reception for the civil ceremony but I’m sure it won’t be a problem since it’s just a simple lunch and there aren’t going to be a lot of guests.

It’s a lot of work but it feels good to get things done. So I am feeling pretty tired from all that walking and shopping we did over the weekend but it was all worth it.

Do You Need to Be Lucky to Find Love?

Do You Need to Be Lucky to Find Love?
by Rich Santos

Looking around at the earth's processes, I'm reminded of how lucky we are to have beautiful things in the world.

Way beneath the earth's surface, when carbon has been placed under enough pressure, diamonds are formed. It takes millions of years for this process to occur. When a parasite drills into a mollusks' shell, that mollusk performs a set of defensive actions that result in the formation of a pearl.

Okay, maybe love happens easier than diamonds or pearls happen. Or does it? Like other beautiful things in nature, a lot of things have to happen for anything to culminate. One of the main governing forces over these kinds of processes is good old-fashioned luck.

Here are four elements of falling in love that require a little bit of luck to ensure success, in my opinion:

Timing
When two people meet and start hanging out, a key to taking the next step in a relationship is where people are in their lives. Are they both in a position to be able to be close to someone? Perhaps one of the two is working on their career too much, or maybe someone has just been through a painful relationship not too long before, and can't commit.

When it all works out, people come into one another's life at just the right time. And, luck has a lot to do with it because you really can't plan it — you can only hope that it happens just right.

Circumstance
Circumstance dictates the entire process of running into a person. Are you both living in the same town? What brought you there? Every meeting you have with every person in your life is determined by a combination of personal choices and events in your life. As Back to the Future taught us, even the most minute choice/action can change the future.

If you want to go even further back, your existence is based on events and choices of ancestors before you stretching far back in time. So, not only are we all lucky to be on earth, but we are lucky that our significant other is on earth as well, and even luckier that circumstance brought us together.

First Impression
They say first impression is everything. This holds true in business and pleasure. We base so much on that first meeting with a person. There's a lot of luck involved. People like me are lucky when we can control what we say and not screw anything up right off the bat. OK, maybe there is some control over that, but what about subtle things?

Perhaps when you approach someone in a bar, a particular song happens to be on, or the lighting and atmosphere are just right to give your meeting a little more impact. Making a memorable and emotional first impression is not easy; so a little luck always helps.

Chemistry
When my high school teacher told me that everything a human does is based on chemical reactions in the brain, I was floored. From then on I walked around wondering about the chemical reactions going on in my head that made me wave to a friend, or snap my fingers along with a song. Hell, how do the chemicals in my brain even make me like a song?

With so much complex brain chemistry telling us what we like, what we do, who we are, and if we are happy or sad, we are lucky that people even exist that we can blend with. I am convinced that my brain chemistry is so scrambled that there are no possible compatible female minds. But I'll keep looking, and perhaps I will be lucky enough to meet someone who is not only compatible, but makes all my brain chemistry happy.

Article swiped from MSN Lifestyle


I saw this article on MSN this morning and I thought I'd share it here because I think it's so true. I completely agree that timing, circumstance, first impression and chemistry all play a role in what relationship we'll develop with each other. It's funny because these are things we can't control and yet they have such a huge effect on what happens next. Do I think that falling in-love involves luck? Maybe...

God Bless You!

I seek in prayerful words, dear friend
My heart’s true wish to send you,
That you may know that far or near
My prayerful thoughts attend you.

I cannot find a truer word
Nor better to address you,
Nor song nor poem have I heard
Is sweeter than God bless you!

God bless you! So I’ve wished you all
Of brightness life possesses;
For can any joy at all
Be yours unless God blesses?
And so through all the days
May shadows touch thee never
But this alone, God bless you
Then art thou safe forever.

My grandma sent this to me and Steve along with a letter to my dad. Although it is a simple poem, it really touched me and almost made me cry. I miss her everyday and I regret not being able to visit her as often as I'd like. Even though we're in Canada and she's in the Philippines, she never fails to send her love and well wishes. I hope she knows how much she means to us.

Halo - Beyonce

I'm currently listening to Beyonce's Halo and although at first I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, I eventually did develop a liking for it.

-------------------------

Halo
Beyonce Knowles

Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound

I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light

I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again

Feels like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
The risk that I'm takin'
I'm never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Halo, halo

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace

You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo

Parting ways

These past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for both Steve and I. A close couple friend of ours has filed for legal separation and the circumstances which led up to it were... to say the least – very unfavourable. As a matter of fact, it was downright shocking and hurtful. When we first heard about it, we honestly didn’t know how to react or what to say. I reacted by first thinking that it must be a joke because we were all together last weekend and everything was fine. Then after realizing that it was really happening, my second reaction was to ask the “whys” and “hows” and “what happened?” and of course the “what do we do?” and “where do we go from here”.

Steve and I were both extremely upset over the news because these are our close friends. They’re the people we practically spend most of our weekends with, the people we thought whose kids would be our kids’ friends and the people we go on vacation with. We’ve had many dinners together, seen movies together, played board games together... and this was the last thing we expected. I wish the separation were amicable because it would make it easier for everyone to just get along. But it doesn’t seem that way right now. In fact, we don’t know if we can still be friends with one party simply because of the reasons behind the separation.

It’s only been days but it’s already turning ugly. Sides are being taken, clothes are being packed, lawyers are involved, and sooner or later someone’s going to have to deal with who gets custody of the dog and who gets what assets. Thinking about all these things, I can’t help but get upset... I feel angry, hurt, shocked and sad... mostly sad.

I’m sad because it couldn’t have happened at a worst time. But then again, there is no good time for something like this. I’m sad because nothing will ever be the same again and we’ll miss all the activities we enjoyed doing together. I’m sad because the plans we had together may not ever happen. I’m sad because I don’t know if their separation will eventually lead to divorce. And I’m sad because of the circumstances that led to the separation and I’m sad because I don’t want to see such a young, lovely couple have to go through something so terrible.

Knowing what I know about what had happened, I honestly can’t say if they should stick together and try to work it out or if it would be best for them to part ways. Right now, I am leaning towards the latter. I am pro working things out but only if both parties are willing to make it work. I don’t know if this is the case. There are some things that harder to accept, forgive and forget.

The last thing you would want to see is your good friends go through a really difficult time. As much as I’d like to mend things so that everything can go back to the way they were, the best that I can do is pray and hope for the best.

Edward

Swiped this from Clever Girl's Blog and I can't help but SWOON!

I have to be honest and say that there are times when Robert Pattinson looks so hot and there are times when I think he needs a hair cut. At times I see shots of him which remind me of the "magnum" pose from Zoolander (sorry!).

Regardless, he IS cute!

Phenomen'Eyes Mascara

Phenomen'Eyes Mascara by Givenchy (photo courtesy of Sephora)

I saw this on the internet and I really want to try it. I'm not a big make-up person and the only make-up I wear on a daily basis are foundation, pressed powder, and chapstick/lipstick. I am not particularly good at putting on make-up and I actually think I look weird with eye make-up on. But anyhow, the primary reason I don't particularly wear mascara is because I have such tiny eyelashes that make it hard for me to put on mascara especially the really little ones close to edge. I wonder if this "sphere-shaped" Givenchy mascara will do the trick.

They don't carry Givenchy at Holt Renfrew and apparently Sephora is the only store that carries it. I wonder if Sephora here in Canada has it too...?

Sad news.

I just found out (courtesy of White’s post) that Francis Magalona succumbed to leukemia. He was just 44 years old. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

Related news here.

Books for the desert

You're packing your bag for that other desert island - the one with no electricity - what 5 books do you take with you?

I swiped this from Jela’s blog (thanks Jela and I hope you don’t mind..).

A bit of a toughie since I love to read and I usually end up loving most books I go through. I am a big fan of “feel-good” books and I normally go for the romantic and emotional type of books. As Steve says, I am a sucker for mush. So here goes…

Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas (James Patterson) – A friend of my mom’s lent her this book and I ended up reading it before her. I have never read any of James Patterson’s action-filled, mystery books but absolutely loved this one. From the moment I read the first few pages, I was instantly hooked and I think I actually finished it the same night that my mom brought it home. I loved the book so much that when I saw it at National Bookstore, I bought my very own copy which I brought with me when I moved to Canada. I read it again after a few years and I still keep it in my bedside table.

Lamb (Christopher Moore) – I would probably be chastised for reading this just because of what it is about. Some people might be offended by it but I thought it was hilarious. I found it so funny that I actually cried quite a number of times because I was just laughing so hard. I adore the sarcasm and the author’s sense of humor. It is a fictional story about Jesus and his best friend Biff and all their adventures while growing up. It’s one of those books that make you go, “oh this is just so wrong…” in between laughs. Ever wonder what Jesus did between the ages of 12 and 30? Read on…

Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) – Need I say more? Some people do drugs, some people smoke… but Twilight is just my kind of heroin. I can honestly read this book over and over and over again and still gush and cry every time Edward and Bella are together. Yes, it’s a teenager’s book but I love it just the same.

The Notebook & A Walk to Remember (Nicholas Sparks) – Technically these should count as two separate books but I figured since they’re written by the same author and have almost the same theme, that I should just bunch them together. I don’t own all of Nicholas Sparks’ books but I did enjoy the ones I’ve read. Want to have a good cry? Pick one up from the bookstore near you. They always make me burst into tears but I love how he portrays the characters in his books and the complex relationships they have. His books don’t always promise a happy ending but they’re really good reads.

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) – We had to read this book for a school paper but I loved reading it anyway. It’s certainly one of those few classics that I enjoyed reading. I still have the tattered copy which I bought years ago when I was still in high school. I really admire how well the book was written and how effective it was in describing scenes and characters. Just like Pride and Prejudice (another love of mine), I enjoyed flipping each page, trying to figure out what was going to happen between the two main characters. Where they going to end up together? What’s the big reveal?

These are just a few of the many books I have enjoyed reading. I am currently reading The Long Walk Home by Will North but I've only read the first few pages and it's too early to tell whether I will love the book or not.

Confusing?

"I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a
could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be
a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might-
have-been has never been, but a has was once an are."

-- Milton Berle

Hug!

If you're angry at a loved one, hug that person.
And mean it. You may not want to hug - which is all the more reason to do so.

It's hard to stay angry when someone shows they love you, and that's precisely what happens when we hug each other.

Hugging is important. It is more than just a sign of affection. It comforts, offers support and encouragement, and it has the ability to calm worry and fear. It is a simple act of wrapping your arms around another person and yet it has the ability to make someone feel better.

If you haven't hugged someone today, make sure you do so. Hugging is a feel-good exercise after all.

They are real-life lovers?

'Fringe' co-stars Anna Torv and Mark Valley wed
Feb. 4, 2009, 12:29 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) -- Life imitates art at the Fox series "Fringe," where co-stars Anna Torv and Mark Valley have wed.

Torv's representative, Jen Turner, says the couple were married in December. She didn't provide any details.

Torv, 29, plays FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham on "Fringe." Valley, 44, played Dunham's partner and secret lover, agent John Scott, when the series began last fall. But their relationship took a mysterious turn when Scott was seemingly killed and exposed as Dunham's apparent betrayer.

Swiped this article from MSN.com this morning. I didn't know they were dating in real-life. Did you see the episode for Fringe last week? Do you think that was John Scott's last episode?

I haven't been paying enough attention to notice if "the Observer" was in any of last few episodes I've seen.

Dang Josh, why did you have to get married?

Saw these wedding pics on Perez Hilton's website... Josh Duhamel is so darn cute!

Why are some people so effortlessly good-lookin'?!

I hope Josh is still the next Transformers movie... come to think of it, I was watching the trailer for Transformers 2 and I think he is there... yay!

Maybe I will name my kid Joshua so I can call him Josh.. I don't think my mom will like it... it reminds her too much of Kris Aquino and the way she says "Josh". Hahaha!

Sige di na nga...

I still love you Dao Ming Si!

Chayanne’s Yo Te Amo is currently playing on my iPod and I swear every time I hear it, Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai frolicking around in Spain is the very first thing that comes to my mind. Kinikilig pa din ako. Yes, until now.

I even remember the very first Meteor Garden episode I saw. It was the one where they played basketball. I think it was also the episode where Shan Cai meets Dao Ming Si’s sister. I got hooked from that point forward and just kept watching it until I was so obsessed that I ended up buying the entire series on DVD from Quiapo. I personally preferred the subtitles over the version dubbed in Tagalog even though the subtitles were pretty funky and sometimes made no sense at all.

I remember finding out about Meteor Garden 2. I was blissfully happy with the news. I remember going on various Meteor Garden fan sites and forums just to be able to obtain any piece of information about it. I must have gone to Quiapo over and over again, checking if it was already out on DVD. I remember seeing the music video for Yo Te Amo with Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai... It was the teaser for MG 2. I actually cried when they showed Dao Ming Si getting into a car accident. I knew he was going to have some form of amnesia. I’ve seen enough telenovelas to know someone’s bound to lose their memory at some point.

I remember my mum and me watching the episode where Dao Ming Si and Ye Sha were celebrating Valentine’s Day and you could see Dao Ming Si falling in love with her while they were slow dancing. I started bawling right then and there. I was really devastated. I actually hated Dao Ming Si and Ye Sha at that point. I knew that at some point Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai would end up together again but seeing him fall for another girl really hurt! I took it so personally!

It all seems so silly but there’s just a certain charm to Meteor Garden that never fails to appeal to me.

For all you Meteor Garden fanatics out there, enjoy...

Heart of Life

I really like this song... It was playing at the last scene of the movie Ghost Town which coincidentally was also the first time I ever heard it.

I just thought I'd share it here... enjoy!

Are You Blessed?

(Author Unknown, Source Unknown )

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace… you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married…you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful…you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you prayed yesterday and today…you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

If you can read now, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

So try it…focus on the white paper instead of the black dot.


| Swiped this from Eper's Blog and felt that this was just the thing I needed to read before starting my work day. Especially with the economic crisis that's been going on lately, it's so easy to lose sight of the little things we have but take for granted. Don't you find that it is so much easier for us to take note of the things we don't have rather than the things we do? It's nice to be reminded of just how blessed I truly am. Thank you Eper for sharing this with me. |

Twilight: Director's Notebook

February 4, 2009 (New York, NY) — Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, will release Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight: Director's Notebook as a one-day laydown on March 17, 2009, it was announced today by Megan Tingley, the division's Senior Vice President and Publisher. This intimate look at the making of Summit Entertainment's film follows visionary director Hardwicke through the creative process. Designed to replicate the director's own personal notebook that she kept on set, readers will discover the inside secrets on casting, location scouting and wardrobe to storyboard sketches, behind-the-scenes photographs, personal notes about Catherine's favorite scenes and much more. This one-of-a-kind experience for all Twilight fans will be released in hardcover for $17.99 with an announced first printing of 500,000 copies.

Read the rest of the press release here. You can read Entertainment Weekly's article here.

To Watch...

The movies I want to see…

• He’s Just Not That Into You
  
• Confessions of a Shopaholic
  
• The Time Traveller’s Wife
  
• Reservation Road
  
• Slumdog Millionaire
  
• Watchmen
  
• Transformers 2
  
• One Week
  
• The Reader

Movies I want to Rent (since I didn’t see them in the theatres)…

• Closing the Circle
  
• Kung Fu Panda
  
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona
  
• Nights in Rodanthe
  
• Blindness
  
• Changeling
  
• Love and Other Disasters

TV series I were not able to follow but would like to rent…

• The New Adventures of Old Christine
  
• Lipstick Jungle
  
• Sex and the City
  
• Supernatural (my brother bought Season 3 so I just need Seasons 1 and 2)
  
• Pride and Prejudice (the one starring Colin Firth – I hear it’s really good)
  
• The 2 Fringe episodes I missed

I should have a “Books I want to read” list too but I don’t really have one. I just make a trip to the bookstore, buy a book and then read it. Although, there are still some books I had already started reading but haven’t been able to finish which I probably should get back to at some point.

Keeping (un)Fit

The Wii fitness instructor would be very disappointed with me. I haven’t been using the Wii Fit for at least two weeks now and I am definitely not hitting my goal by my deadline. The goal is to lose 5 lbs in two weeks. You and I both know that’s not happening. It’s a nice, impossible goal though. Steve keeps saying we should use the gym at work but our CEO’s always using it and he does NOT want to share. He’s such a weirdo… intelligent but very temperamental. He likes to brag to visitors that we have a gym at the office which the staff can use. BUT what he doesn’t tell them is that the staff can use the gym ONLY if he’s not using it (which is never by the way since he’s always in the gym).

Since a gym membership is a bit expensive for us right now, I am thinking that I should just starve myself. Kidding!! I can’t stop eating even if I tried to. I get really weak really fast if I don’t eat properly. I actually am the type that gets the shakes when I’m really hungry. To top it all off, I also have hyper-acidity which can be both painful and uncomfortable if I skip meals.

I realize that I am actually consuming twice the amount of food I was eating when I first came to Canada. Somehow I must have gotten used to the big servings here. I am always surprised when I finish a plate that I normally wouldn’t have been able to finish. I certainly don’t think that my metabolism has increased. I suspect it’s gone much slower in the last couple of years so I’m definitely not burning enough of what I consume.

I really admire and envy those people who exercise regularly. Some people run or jog outside even during the winter! How do they do that?! I look at their discipline and determination and I am in awe. I wish I could say the same for myself.

Do you agree?

Brain scans show that when a man’s brain is in a resting state, at least 70 percent of his brain is shut down. On the other hand, when women were resting, at least 90 percent of their brain was active, confirming that women are always thinking...

In another study, when asked to think of nothing, men’s brains were more active in the more primitive physical activity centers, while women’s brains were more active in the emotional centers. Left to themselves, men will think about sex or their jump shot, women will think about their spouse, their children or parents.

-Excerpt from Sex on the Brain by Daniel G. Amen

I came across this excerpt while reading Chatelaine at the doctor's office. I thought it was interesting because I find that even when I don't want to think, I'm constantly thinking. I sometimes feel as though my brain just won't shut down. Not that I have any trouble sleeping... the opposite actually. As soon as I lie down, I'm fast asleep. But I do suspect that even when I am asleep, my mind is still working away which is probably why I dream a lot and why I remember most of my dreams. I always wondered if people thought as much as I do.

Even when I am sitting quietly or staring into space, I am still thinking.

Sweets

The culprit: a pack of gummy watermelon candies.


A co-worker bought a bag of these yesterday and gave me a few in a small plastic bag. I haven’t been able to stop myself from devouring them and it is making my teeth hurt. Steve has taken and hidden them away from me just so I would finally stop eating. Of course, it doesn’t help that I know exactly where he hid them. This morning, I went to his desk, opened the first drawer and there they were – yummy, gummy watermelon candies.

I was able to eat two of them before Steve caught me. He once again sternly reminded me that I shouldn’t eat them because they’re not good for me. He’s actually threatened to throw them out. I’m just surprised he hasn’t done it yet... I have seen him throw out an entire plastic container half-filled with sour keys so if he says he’ll throw them out, I believe him. Maybe he’s worried I will get upset? Possible. I do get pretty cranky when something I love gets wasted. Particularly food that I like.

I love gummy candies. I never feel good after but I eat them anyway. I used to be able to eat a lot of candy and be fine afterwards. Now, if I consume an entire bag, I get sick. I remember watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when I was a kid and envying the kids in the movie who got to go inside the big candy factory. I watched the remake of that film a few years ago... the one starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and I did not envy the kids at all. Just thinking of all that sugar makes me feel a bit nauseous. Last night while watching Jeopardy, a TV commercial for Werthers came on where it showed this little girl going into a Werthers shop and they were showing different kinds of Werthers candy (soft, chewy and hard) and of course caramel dripping slowly into a container. Steve said he’d love to be in that Werthers shop tasting all those delicious caramel candy. I couldn’t help but laugh because he keeps reprimanding me for eating sweets and yet he eats more chocolate and caramel than anyone I know! I’ve actually witnessed him eat more than 5 mini chocolate bars in a row! I can only eat one of those and I’m good. I find them too sweet. I love Maltesers though... I can finish an entire pack in one sitting.

I’m trying to think which brand of candy/chocolate I like the most but I can’t think of any one brand in particular. I used to be a really HUGE fan of Twix but now I’m not as fond of caramel anymore. I guess our taste when it comes to candy/chocolate changes with us as we grow older.

Do you have faith?

Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. – Heb 11:1

I love this particular Bible verse from the book of Hebrews.

Do you think that all people have faith? Not necessarily faith in God but just faith in general? I’d like to think that all of us have faith in someone or something (if not God). Let’s face it, life’s difficult as it is and I can’t imagine anyone going through life without having any kind of faith... faith in one's self...faith that things will work out in the end... faith that something good will eventually come out of it...faith that someone up there is watching. Not having faith in anything almost feels like going through life without any form of hope or destination. Even when things are great, don't you still need faith that things will remain the way they are or that should things go wrong, that it will right itself in the end?

I just find it hard to believe that there are people out there who don't have faith at all.

Where do you put your faith in?

I want a pair!

I was browsing the Cole Haan website and fell in-love with these...





I love the flower detail on the second and third pair.. looks very dainty and classy at the same time. I like the first pair because it just exudes class and I like the fact that it's dyeable so I can have dyed in black after and wear it with something else. I am thinking of getting one pair (they're so expensive that I can barely afford a pair). My cousin owns a similar pair and she said it's so comfortable and worth every penny.

So many beautiful things.. so little money to spend!

What I've been up to

I know I have been an absentee when it comes to posting and since it’s been sometime since my last entry, I thought I’d give you an update on what’s been going on with me.

Let’s see…

Steve took me out for dinner at the Old Mill to celebrate our two years together. He wore a suit and I wore a dress and we ate steak and lobster. The place was amazing! It’s one of those places that have been around for years and years and just looks so classy and cozy at the same time. Aside from the good food, we also enjoyed dancing to songs performed by a live band. Steve commented that the singer had a great voice except that he looked as if he had a bit too much to drink. I thought he just looked tired. Too bad, we didn’t have a camera with us so we only took a few pictures using my camera phone. It was too dark for our camera phones so out of all the photos we took, only one turned out nicely. After dinner, we went to Café Mirage for dessert. We love going there for dessert and coffee because they have nice lounge chairs and it’s a good place to just sit and talk. Plus, they have really good cakes, pies, ice cream, waffles and crepes. I have to admit that the evening was expensive but we both had a blast and it was worth every penny.

Last Thursday, my family and I became Canadian citizens. I had to take the day off from work to go for my oath-taking and also to apply for my Canadian passport. Since we applied as a family, we went as a family. There were 91 citizenship candidates present for the oath-taking, representing 23 different countries. It’s nice seeing so many different people from different backgrounds in one room. So different and yet so alike in so many ways. The judge was a nice, friendly man… such a huge contrast to all the other employees there who seemed to hate working in the service industry. I guess when you have to deal with people day in and day out, especially having to deal with people who can’t seem to follow the simplest instructions, it does get very tiring. But still, I don’t like all the people I have to deal with on a daily basis but I try my best to be pleasant! Anyhow, the judge encouraged the participants to take the oath in both French and English to show our support for Canada’s bilingualism and multiculturalism. He said the oath in French first which we all followed. I couldn’t help but laugh during the entire process because something about a room full of people mumbling French words they don’t understand seemed ridiculous. For all we know, the judge could have been saying something else entirely different and we’d be repeating it just the same!

I’m really glad we got our citizenship. We waited at least 3 years just so we can apply for it. We’ve applied for our passports as well so hopefully we’ll be able to travel to the states soon to see our relatives. I keep telling Steve, he’ll have to take me shopping in Buffalo or New York. He just shakes his head and tells me I should know better. Hahahaha!

In case you are wondering if I denounced my Filipino citizenship… no, I didn’t and neither did my family. We weren’t required to and it’s nice being able to have dual citizenship. We are happy to be Filipino-Canadians.

What else…? I haven’t been able to watch a single episode of Fringe since it came back two weeks ago and I’m completely lost. JR won’t tell me what happened and insists that I watch it on my own. He says that it’s better that way. The problem is, I just haven’t found the time to actually watch the episodes I missed. Apparently, Prison Break’s about to be axed. It’s a good show but it is about time they ended it. The story line’s getting a bit ridiculous. Come to think of it, the only show I’ve been able to follow lately is the Bachelor. Only because Steve’s sister watches it regularly and I end up watching it too.

We recently rented Ghost Town from Blockbuster and we liked it. As my dad puts it, it’s got a subtle sense of humor but quite enjoyable. I laughed so hard at the part where he gags because of the dog! Too funny!

I saw this really beautiful blue dress at Club Monaco the other day and I REALLY wanted to buy it except that it was expensive and way over my budget. I walked out of that store feeling depressed. I knew I shouldn’t have gone in to begin with. Stubborn, stubborn fool.

I finally got the swimsuits I ordered online and… none of them fit me properly!! I’m so annoyed… now I have to ship them all back. I would have rather bought one from a store here in Toronto but most stores have the same stuff. There’s so much more available online and cheaper too. I just wish they fit as well as they looked online. That way I don’t have to keep buying them and then having to return them.

Shopping can be quite difficult at times…

Mind-boggling.

I was reading an article on MSN this morning about a few individuals who are considered medical mysteries. I found it quite interesting so I thought I’d share it with you.

It’s pretty amazing how different and yet similar we all truly are.

Read Dr. Oz Investigates Medical Mysteries.

I can't imagine being so physically different. I can only imagine the challenges it must present. I admire the strength and the heart that these people have.

A lot of people tell me I have an excellenet memory but wow, Jill sure has an outstanding memory! Although interesting, I'm sure it must be difficult to remember things that you would rather forget. They say that the brain automatically "forgets" anything that might be too painful or traumatic. Imagine not being able to forget? It must be hard.

I love the question that Dr. Oz presents at the end of the article:

"But the real question in my mind—I wonder if all of us have memories we can't access or if you're able to store more memories than any of us can..."

I've always wondered if we do somehow record everything that happens to us but we just don't always know how to access all of our memories. And I also wonder how our brain decides on which memories we remember and which ones we don't. It really is interesting.

PMS and the Wii Fit.

I can’t tell you enough how glad I am that it’s Friday. This week has left me drained out and extremely tired. Last night, I passed out on my bed at 11 pm and woke up this morning in almost the exact same position. I slept so soundly and yet I still felt tired when I got up.

I am easily annoyed these days… I honestly think it’s because I’m PMS-ing. I don’t know if that’s considered too much information on this blog but it is what it is. If you aren’t female, then I’m sure you’ve got sisters, mothers, girlfriends, aunts, wives, and daughters so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Anyhoo, I’ve noticed that the littlest things upset me, I am needy and I am very sensitive. One minute I’m completely fine and the next minute I feel like bursting into tears. The thing is, I am aware of the fact that it’s my hormones causing all these mood swings I’ve been having and yet I can’t seem to control any of it. I’m just plain emotional… and it sucks.

We bought a Wii Fit over the holidays and I’ve been trying to get some much needed exercise using it. I even created my own Mii character (very similar to an avatar except that it’s a 3D graphic). The Wii Fit has four (4) major types of exercises that are designed to tone and strengthen your body as well as improve posture and balance. Before you begin an exercise, it suggests that you do a body test where it measures your BMI and weight and then gives you tips on how to burn fat or tone muscles effectively. When you are ready to train, you get to choose between Yoga, Strengthening exercises, Aerobics and Balance exercises. You can choose to only do one form of exercise but you are encouraged to combine all four to help improve your overall fitness. The more time you spend exercising, the more kinds of exercises you unlock.

Well, let me tell you, I’m now officially addicted to it. I try to go on the Wii Fit for at least half an hour to an hour every other day. Since I started, I have only really lost maybe barely a pound or two but maann… different parts of my body hurt! First it was my legs, then my abs, then my back muscles, then my arms and today my side muscles hurt. The sad thing is that I don’t see any improvement physically but I do feel lots of soreness. I hear that’s a good thing because it means I’m stretching my muscles. I don’t know for sure but I better see some physical improvements! Not that I’m overweight… the opposite actually… but there are certain areas I would like to improve.. like having a flatter tummy or toned arms. I am told I need to watch my food intake too but it’s so hard! I’m always hungry! I tend to snack when I’m bored! I can totally empathize with people who find it hard to curb their appetites… I’m one of them!

I love going on the Wii Fit because I can just go on it anytime I want to and in the comfort of my own home. I don’t think it’s designed for body builders but it might just be good enough for what I need. I’m not looking at having big muscles anyway. If the Wii Fit isn’t enough, maybe then I’ll consider getting a gym membership. In the meantime, I’m going to continue having fun with it and hoping it will at least give my a flatter tummy.

Cold Weather Alert.

We have a cold weather alert today. According to this morning’s weather report, the warmest it’s going to get is a still very cold -11 degrees Celsius. The low is apparently a freezing -21 degrees and if we factor in the wind chill, it would feel like -29 degrees.



Because I am always cold, I decided I should put on even more layers of clothing today due to the kind of temperatures we are having. I am wearing thick socks that go almost up to my knees, jeans, a long-sleeved white shirt with a thick wool turtleneck on top of it, and thick, water-proof boots with fur lining inside. To top it all off, I also have a scarf, leather gloves and a thick winter jacket that are long enough to cover my thighs. I officially now look like a miniature Sasquatch. I can barely move with all the layers of clothing I am wearing. I imagine you can probably try to punch me and I wouldn’t feel a thing.

It was biting cold when I got out of the house this morning. I could see my breath turn into white air every time I exhaled and my nostrils felt so dry and brittle that I thought my nose would bleed. My head was covered and so were my ears so that helped a little bit. But it was really uncomfortable being outside in such cold conditions.

It is days like today when I wish I were somewhere warm.

Feeding your Twilight Addiction

According to Stephenie Meyer's website, the Twilight DVD will be released on March 21st! YAY!

There's apparently a "Special Edition" DVD which will feature the following:

SPECIAL FEATURES — DISC ONE

• Five extended scenes with director introductions
  
• Audio commentary (Catherine Hardwicke, Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart)
  
• Three music videos (Muse, Paramore, Linkin Park)

SPECIAL FEATURES — DISC TWO

• Five deleted scenes with director introductions
  
• Seven-part documentary: "The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen"
  
• Comic-Con Phenomenon featurette
  
• And more!

And just in case you are wondering... yes, I am going to buy it.

Go Team Edward! *wink wink*

Can someone get me these in a size 5.5 or 6?

Aren’t they beautiful?

I have been browsing the internet for a nice pair of shoes/sandals/wedges that I can wear with my wedding dress. I can’t wear heels because the wedding is on the beach so I am somewhat limited to low or midrise wedges or flats. I have found a few cute ones from Piperlime but they only ship to the U.S. so I am thinking of buying a pair and then maybe having them shipped to family members in Virginia and then have them ship it to me.

I am leaning more towards getting a low or midrise wedge because I need the added height but there aren’t a lot out there that are nice enough for a wedding. The ones that I do find that are really nice cost an arm and a leg and although I am willing to spend that much money, Steve will most likely freak out.

I was worried about finding the dress but it is actually easier to find a dress than it is to find shoes and accessories to go with it (or maybe I only feel that way because I still haven’t found/bought them yet).

I REALLY, REALLY LOVE this pair… I look at them everyday. I just haven’t been able to think of way of purchasing them without going over my budget.

If you get this pair for me, I will forever be grateful!

Nominated!

I tend to disappear from the blogging world during the holidays as I tend to get quite busy during this time of the year. I logged in this morning and guess what? My humble site has been nominated for Filipino Blog of the Week!! Yay!

I am not entirely sure how my little site was nominated (or even how it was found) but I am quite happy with just being nominated regardless of whether I win or not.

Here are the rules of the poll.

One of the rules of being nominated is to apparently put a post on my blog about the poll. So if you guys would like to vote, you can go to this site and you will find the poll located at the sidebar to the right. I am not entirely sure until when you can vote so by the time you read this post, I might not be even on the list anymore!

In any case, thank you for always reading my posts!!

Wii crazy!

I recently purchased a Nintendo Wii for the family as a Christmas gift (and partly a birthday gift for my youngest brother, Miguel). I had a difficult time looking for it because my brothers decided to tell me that they wanted a Wii at the very last minute and all the stores I called were already sold out. On Monday, I phoned all Future Shop stores in Toronto and none of them had any left. Then I phoned the Best Buy store nearest work and miracle of miracles, they still had a few remaining. I asked them if they could hold one for me but they said it was being sold on a first come, first serve basis so I have no choice but to make my way to the store and get one.

So after work, Steve and I made our way to the Best Buy Store which was located 20 minutes away from the office… only that it took us an hour and forty minutes to get there! Apparently there was a car that caught fire on the highway and they had to close all lanes so all the cars heading east were going through the back roads hence, causing the huge traffic jam. I was already somewhat anxious because I was worried the store would run out of Wiis before I got there so being stuck in traffic for that long wasn’t helping me at all. Of course, you always get stuck behind some bad driver when you’re really rushing. I felt like getting out of the car, walking up the driver of the car in front of us and telling him/her off. But it was snowing like mad and everybody was pissed off as it is and getting off the car to tell someone off might not help the situation.

When we finally got to Best Buy, Steve and I made a bee line for the Gaming section. We frantically scanned the aisles trying to locate the Wii consoles. I was beginning to panic when we couldn’t find them. As it turns out, they had just been delivered earlier that day and they were still in big brown boxes in one corner instead of being on display. I stood in line to get one and I think it was obvious from the way I was fidgeting how anxious I was to get my hands on one of those. If someone had made the mistake of cutting me in line, I honestly think I would have jumped on them. Believe me, I was that crazy.

The sales clerk asked me if there was anything else I wanted to get. I told him I was also looking for Guitar Hero. He smiled at me and asked, "which one?". To which I replied with a confused, "The kind that works with the Wii??". He chuckled and said, "Yes, but there's more than one kind.."

To say that I was completely confused is an understatement. I told him to give me a minute while I phoned my brothers to ask which kind (he must think I'm one of those dumb girls that walk into electronic stores not knowing what to do in there). After speaking briefly to my brother, JR, I turned to him and said, "Apparently I'm supposed to get the Guitar Hero World Tour if there is such a thing.."

So he led us to another aisle, past frantic shoppers and finally to a big pile of boxes near the front of the store. Both Steve and I gawked at it. The boxes were a lot bigger than we expected. Immediately, my brain went into what I call "a shopper's instinct".. bigger boxes meant bigger price tags. So I just had to ask him, "Just out of curiousity, how much does it cost?" and he said, "$210.00"

Now I don't know about you, but that seemed awfully expensive for a video game! Normally, when I go shopping and see something that I think is waaayyy overpriced, I can still keep my cool and pretend that the prize doesn't faze me in the least bit. But this one caught me offguard and instead of just going "uh huh.. ok", I yelped with a loud, "This thing is TWO HUNDRED AND TEN FREAKIN' DOLLARS?!" It's as if I could hear every penny disappear from my wallet.

I did, however, end up getting both the Wii and the Guitar Hero World Tour. I think I would be staying away from shopping for awhile.. at least until I can recover from all the spending this month.

Did we atleast enjoy playing it? Absolutely!

Run

I recently downloaded this song into my iPod and I'm loving it. I hear it was originally sung by Snow Patrol but I haven't heard that version yet.

I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

-- Run
Leona Lewis

More...

I have a bad habit of not checking my email accounts regularly except for my hotmail and work email. But somehow, I always end up checking my Yahoo account at just the right time – when an old friend sends me a message and or when I receive an interesting email. It’s almost as if I know an email is waiting for me. It’s so weird.

I don’t know if it’s just me but don’t you find that during the times when you want to go to bed early, you end up staying even later than usual? Suddenly there’s things that need to be done, good TV shows, phone calls, books to read… and you get so caught up that you actually achieve the opposite of what you intended.

Are you a fan of online shopping? I have always been somewhat wary of shopping over the internet. I’m worried about getting scammed or buying a product that doesn’t fit me right and has poor quality. Everything always looks good in the pictures but they seldom turn out the way you expect them to. I bought 2 pieces of clothing once and was really disappointed when I got them. First, they delivered when I wasn’t at home so I had to drive to Markham (actually, Steve had to drive me) to claim it at the Purolator there. Second, they were both too big and not to mention made of really low quality material. It was not worth the money and effort I put into it. My cousins seem to have no problems shopping online. In fact many people buy stuff online all the time. I think I’m just one of those people that need to be able to touch it first before buying. It’s a habit I have… the compulsion to touch almost everything in the store. I remember getting in trouble for it a lot when I was a kid. My parents were always worried I was going to end up breaking something in the store. I can only remember that one time I dropped a pencil sharpener made entirely of glass and it ended up bouncing off the floor and I was too scared to even bother checking if I broke the darn thing so I ran to my parents and never looked back. I actually developed a phobia of going back to that store. I finally got over it after a few years. For some reason I thought they’d surely recognize me if they saw me. I can see the sale clerks point at me and saying, “Hey! That’s the kid that broke the sharpener!! Get her!!” Gee, the things I feared when I was young…

I saw a kid on the subway last night with a “CatDog” school bag. I don’t know if you ever watched that cartoon but I sure thought it was hilarious back then. My brothers and I used to watch it when we were in the Philippines and I haven’t seen a single episode since but seeing that school bag made me smile. And yes, I still enjoy watching cartoons. I even enjoy watching Spongebob Squarepants. Now, if only I can convince Steve to rent Kung Fu Panda for me…

I miss summer vacations. You know, the 2-3 months that you get off school during the summer months? Why can’t we get that every year as working adults? Don’t you agree that it will be healthier for everyone? Oh you know what’s even better? We get PAID summer vacations… yep.. that would be AWESOME.

Ramblings of the Day.

I have read and re-read all of my Twilight books including the draft for Midnight Sun and I don’t think I will ever get over these books. No matter how often I read them, I still get that same giddy feeling the first time I laid my hands on them. They still keep me up late at night reading under the covers and imagining scenes and conversations. I still cry at all the sad parts even though I already know what’s next in the story. Every time I see a magazine with Twilight on the cover, I feel the urge to pick it up and browse through the contents, curious as to what new, interesting information I would find inside (as if I haven’t already read everything there is to read about it). I’ve watched the movie twice (once in the theatres and the other time over the internet). The movie was not great but it was ok… enough for me to want to watch more than once. I know I only like the movie because of the books. I think that had I not read or liked the books, I wouldn’t like the movie. But that’s just me.

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Don’t you wish sometimes that people would think first before they speak?

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I have been feeling very tired and irritable lately. I think it’s a combination of work-related stress and a bunch of other things that all seem to take place at once. Sometimes I feel like pulling my hair out. I just get so frustrated! It’s one thing after another. I try to do someone a favor and all I get in return are complaints. Very seldom do I get appreciation in return. I can’t help but feel a bit discouraged because the nicer I try to be, the harder it gets for me. Am I doing something wrong?

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One of the things I admire about my brother, JR, is his ability to be frank without sounding rude or offensive. He doesn’t let people push him around and he speaks his mind when he doesn’t agree with something. Unlike me who tends to be more of a “YES” person, he knows when to say yes and when to say no. He knows his boundaries, draws a clear line and demands that people respect it. He’s not afraid of confrontation and he doesn’t shy away from bosses or managers or people with titles. He says it as it is and I love him for it. I wish I was more like him in that sense. Confrontations are uncomfortable for me. I don’t always speak up even when I know I need to and that is why abrasive and overly aggressive people find me an easy target. I get upset and I let it fester inside me until it comes to a point where I can’t hold it in anymore and then I blow up. I could save myself all this trouble if I just learn to say something from the get-go. I am always afraid of hurting other people or saying something and having it come out wrong. Sometimes I am afraid that opening my mouth will lead to something worse. While I lie in bed at night, thinking of all the things that have hurt me during the day, my brother is sleeping soundly in his bed. He’s done his part… now if I can only do that too.

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Work is very busy but also very boring at the same time. As I type and QA at the same time, I am singing along to Glory of Love by Peter Cetera. How sad is that?

Twlight Prom Song

Although the lyrics don't make sense, I loved this song which was playing while Edward & Bella were dancing at the prom. I thought it was absolutely perfect for the scene.

(I know, I know! I'm a really big Twilight Fan!!)






I was a quick wet boy
Diving too deep for coins
All of your straight blind eyes
Wide on my plastic toys
And when the cops closed the fair
I cut my long baby hair
Stole me a dog-eared map
And called for you everywhere

Have I found you?
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping
Or lost you?
American mouth
Big bill looming

Now I’m a fat house cat
Cursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats
Curl through the wide fence cracks
Kissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold and clean
Blood of Christ mountain stream

Have I found you?
Flightless bird, brown hair bleeding
Or lost you?
American mouth
Big bill, stuck going down

Flightless Bird, American Mouth
- Iron & Wine

Twlight (Movie)

I finally saw Twilight over the weekend. We were worried we wouldn’t be able to get good seats because it was opening weekend and the tickets were selling fast so we decided to arrive at the theater early. We stood in line for about an hour, reading magazines and talking. I was so excited that I could barely stand still. Steve thought it was funny seeing how crazy I was over a chick flick.

Believe it or not, I actually re-read Twilight in preparation for the film. Crazy, obsessed ‘no?

I have only really read one review online about the movie … the one that Seth wrote on Stephenie Meyer’s website. I also heard on the radio that it made $70 million overnight. That’s as far as I knew about the movie so I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew though, going into the movie, that I would still love the book more than the movie.

I would love to write more about the film but I don’t want to ruin it for those that have yet to see it. All I’m going to say is this: I loved the movie and although I wasn’t so sure about Robert Pattinson in the beginning, I thought he did well in the movie. By the middle of the film, I was literally swooning over him. There were parts of the book that I wish they showed in the film but overall I thought it was pretty good.

Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, New Moon has gotten the green light which means we will still have something to look forward to! I can’t wait to see the movie for New Moon!

Go see the movie if you haven’t!

More amazing, swoon-worthy photos here!

And they eliminated two great dancers...

I am so disappointed at the results of So You Think You Can Dance Canada last night. Two of my favorite dancers – Arasay and Vincent got eliminated. In my opinion, they were two of the strongest and most talented dancers on the show. I actually expected them to be at the top 4 and so did many others. I just can’t believe that Canada voted Vincent off and kept Izaak. C’mon people! Yes, Izaak's good but he sucks compared to all the other remaining dancers. He should go home already!

It’s so discouraging because it almost seems as though dancers remain on the competition due to popularity votes rather than based on technical skill. It’s obvious how talented Arasay and Vincent were and how good they were at adapting to different styles of dancing. It was truly such a huge disappointment to see them go. I would have enjoyed watching them dance a few more routines all the way to the finals.

Wrong Aisle, Honey!

Yesterday, Steve did for me what most men eventually end up doing for their girlfriend, sister, mom or wife. He had to run to the drugstore to get me some feminine pads. I would have gotten them myself but I had a training session that I just couldn’t leave so he volunteered to buy it for me instead. He was going to the bank anyways and offered to pass by the store on the way back to work. So I told him which brand and kind to buy and asked him to give me a call in case he has any questions or has trouble looking for it.

I went back to my training session (since I was on a break) and about a couple of hours into training, my phone rang…

Me (answering the call): “Hey hun, are you having a hard time finding it?”

Steve: “Yeah… they don’t have the one you like… they only have three brands – Poise, Life and Tena… which one should I get?”

Me: “Are you at Shopper’s Drugmart?”

Steve: “Yes…”

Me: “Ok, that’s weird because Shopper’s always has it and at the very least they should have Kotex or Always… wait… Tena?? Are you at the right aisle?? Because I think you’re in the diaper aisle… I think Tena is a diaper brand, honey… Look for the Feminine Hygiene aisle…”

(of course I’m laughing at this point…)

Steve (realizing his mistake and laughing): “Oh! You’re right! Geez, how was I supposed to know! They had the same types like the feminine pads and they look more like pads rather than diapers! It says light, medium and heavy flow on the package too! Oh geez…”

Me (still laughing): “Ok, just look for the right aisle honey and call me back if you still can’t find it…”

Steve: “Ok, I’ll look for it… geez… I must look like an idiot… someone’s probably looking at me on the camera and laughing… I’ve been here for 20 minutes going back and forth through the diaper aisle!”

Anyhow, he did come back to work with the right brand and kind. I was really impressed and amused.

Excited, Disappointed, Giddy and Sad

I can’t tell you how excited I am that Twilight is coming out on Friday! I am so giddy I feel as though I’m bouncing off walls. Every time they show the trailer on TV, I stop whatever it is I’m doing, run to the living room and jump up and down while clapping my hands like a silly school girl. Steve just laughs at me and my brothers think I’m a complete dork. But I don’t care! I love it!

I try not to set my hopes up too high. Chances are, the book will probably be better than the movie but I’d love to see it anyways. I am still a bit unsure of Robert Pattinson playing Edward but I’ll know for sure when I see the movie. I really… REALLY hope it doesn’t disappoint.

I have Twilight in my head day and night and while having lunch on Sunday at a Chinese restaurant downtown, I noticed a guy sitting at the table across from me. His features were similar to how I envisioned Edward in my head and of course I couldn’t help but look at him every now and then (I actually think he might have noticed… whoops!). Steve was sitting beside me and I think I might have actually whispered to him, “Honey, see that guy across us? He looks like Edward from my book…”

I checked Stephenie Meyer’s website last week and saw that she had posted the draft for Midnight Sun which is basically the Twilight Story but told from Edward’s point of view. I absolutely enjoyed reading it. It was nice to be able to know Edward a little bit better… to be able to know what he was thinking and feeling all those times when Bella could only read his facial expressions. It was also nice being able to get to know the Cullen Family a bit better and the extent of their relationship and the complexities of being vampires. I am very disappointed though to read that Stephenie has decided to put Midnight Sun on hold indefinitely due to a leak of the draft online. I am upset at the people who leaked it (whether intentionally or unintentionally) and that because of it, I might never be able to read Midnight Sun. I just can’t get over the fact that it has been put on hold indefinitely. I don’t even know if it will ever be published. I am just plain sad about it (depressed actually). I’ve contemplated on writing Stephenie to try to encourage her to continue writing but I couldn’t find her email address on the website. (And yes, I am THAT big of a fan that I would actually consider writing to the author… I am such a dweeb sometimes).

I really wish Midnight Sun would someday be published. I would give up shopping for the next 6 months if it meant I get to read the book one day. (If you knew me at all, you’d know giving up shopping for 6 months is a very big sacrifice on my part). What would you give up for Midnight Sun?

Oy television!

Work has been very frustrating for me these past few weeks. I feel as though I am left to put out fires that my boss created. The thing is, I had already forewarned her about the consequences of her decision. She didn’t heed the warning and now, the sh*t has hit the fan so to speak. Nakakainis talaga!

Moving on…

There is a TV show that came out about a month or two ago entitled “Fringe”. It’s on Tuesdays at nine in the evening and the entire family is hooked on it. We all sit in the living room, huddled together on the couch. Fringe is almost like a cross between the X-Files and CSI. Of course, Dr. Walter Bishop (an “Einstein-like” genius - played by John Noble) and his son, Peter Bishop (played by Dawson’s Creek’s Joshua Jackson) are unbelievably intelligent characters on the show but I still enjoy all the scientific garble they come up with. I get hooked on all the mystery. I feel the need to find out what’s going to happen next and what “the pattern” really is. I want to find out who the bald guy is and why he’s important. It’s really very addictive.


Image from Fox - Fringe Official Website

I have been pretty good at following my favorite TV shows this season – Grey’s Anatomy, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Fringe, Eli Stone and Two and a Half Men. Oh, and I almost forgot Prison Break (it’s really Steve’s show but we watch it together). I always get so stressed out whenever I watch Prison Break. I want the good guys to succeed and for everything to just work out. As much as I like the suspense, it’s also the one thing that kills me. Steve likes the twists and turns and the intricate things that happen in the story. I just get stressed when something unexpected happens that throws everything off. After awhile though, it just gets a little old. I mean, seriously, how many prisons do we expect Scofield to escape from? And really, the plot is getting a wee bit crazy. A tumor?! C’mon!

Anyhow, I hear Dr. Erika Hahn is being kicked out of Grey’s Anatomy due to her character’s sexuality. Although the network says that they decided to let her character go not because of the character being a lesbian but because they felt that “the magic and chemistry” of Dr. Erika Hahn wouldn’t sustain it in the long run. I think it might be a little of both. I saw the episode last week where Erika and Callie get into an argument about Dr. Izzie Stevens. I wonder if that’s the last episode for Dr. Hahn.

So You Think You Can Dance Canada is on its first season and it seems to be doing fine although I find that the judges are less critical compared to the judges for So You Think You Can Dance (US version). Personally, I prefer Nigel and Mary Murphy doing the judging. But I have to say that I also like Jean-Marc. He’s such a sweet guy and very encouraging. There are also a lot of talented dancers in Canada and boy! Aren’t they good-looking?! I have a crush on Nico Archambault… he’s soooo cute, sooo talented and such a gentleman! AND he speaks French! I melt every time he comes on stage. I think that if I ever met him in person, I’d probably end up making a fool of myself.


(Image courtesy of CTV's Official So You Think You Can Dance Canada Website)

Steve and I are trying to follow Heroes this season but since it is on the same time slot as Two and a Half Men, we find ourselves constantly flipping between the two shows and we’ve missed some key events in Heroes. I guess we could always rent the DVD when it comes out or watch it over the internet.

I enjoy watching TV but I only really follow certain shows. I feel bad when I miss an episode of my favorite shows but it doesn’t kill me. I figure I can always find it on YouTube or some other website.

Crickets in a Box

Last weekend, Steve and I and a couple of friends went out for dinner and a movie. Somewhere between dinner and the movie, we passed by a candy store that sold a variety of treats. Steve’s cousin gets really excited every time he goes into a candy store and proceeds to grab whatever he finds interesting. He is 25 years old.

Don’t get me wrong, I like candy too. Just not all candies. There are certain types I love and then there are those which I am not too crazy about. Take chocolate mints for example. Steve thinks they’re great and I think they’re disgusting. Mint and chocolate shouldn’t mix in my opinion. But that’s just me.

I enjoy going to candy stores because it is full of candy after all. But it’s also a place where I will most likely find a candy brand that was popular back in the day and probably is hard to find. I also like the non-candy items that are either wacky or weird. Like weird-looking stress balls, or glow in the dark stuff, or things you press or squeeze that make weird noises. Believe it or not, among the things we found in this candy store are panties and thongs made entirely out of candy (they’re totally wearable too!), a miniature mega-phone that is “guaranteed to get the b*llsh*t out of you”, a fake clock that runs backwards, a few drinking games and the weirdest one I found – a snack that is made out of crickets! Yes, crickets! In a box! Real, tiny crickets with bacon and cheese flavoring! I thought it was fake but when we checked out the ingredients and after talking to the store owner, we found out they were really crickets. No joke!

I was really tempted to buy it just so I can show it around. It is interesting after all. And really disgusting. The only thing that stopped me from buying its price. I wasn’t willing to spend that much money for a box of snack crickets no matter how interesting it may be.

So the next time you go to a candy store, keep your eye out for crickets!

Winter Fret.

It’s the cold season again and we’ve reverted back to Standard time. It’s quite depressing to know that the cold will only get worse from here and that the next few months will be spent wearing thick winter jackets, layers of clothing and boots. For those who enjoy the cool months, they are happily buying all sorts of winter gear, eager to see snow and go skiing up North. I on the other hand, am moping around, bracing myself for snow storms and time spent walking outside in the cold or waiting at the bus stop. I am no friend of winter.

I don’t get it… the fascination about winter I mean. I am honestly surprised every time I talk to someone who looks forward to the winter months and enjoys the cold weather. The conversation usually goes something like this…

Me: “I can’t believe it’s almost winter again… can you believe how cold it’s gotten in the last few days?”

Other Person: “Yeah… I know! I’m glad it’s getting cooler… I like the winter…”

Me (obviously baffled out of my wits): “REALLY?! You like the winter?! But WHY?!” (I’m not kidding… I even say it while whining… even when I am talking to clients).

And I proceed to go on as to why I think Winter should be abolished... it’s so cold, there’s too much snow, we have to walk in the slush, it’s cold, boots are expensive, the subway goes down a lot, it’s cold!!

Maybe I shouldn’t say that I want to abolish winter because I am being unfair to all the creatures that need winter to survive like the Polar bears and penguins. And I am against Global warming and I am all for protecting the environment and making sure the cold areas stay cold and the icebergs are intact and all that. But still… it is really, really cold! And uncomfortable! And awfully wet! And just really such a hassle!

I think I have difficulty understanding why others like the winter because I am not one of those people who grew up having four seasons. I grew up in the country where it is hot and humid all year long. I like the warmth. I like being able to go out in summer clothing and just being able to wear anything I want. I love being able to take walks and sit in a patio and go swimming. I love everything that comes with the summer. I may not be a big fan of humidity but I prefer it over flurries and cold, strong winds. I would rather by lying in a beach somewhere than be rolling in the snow.

As soon as autumn comes, I succumb to whining about why we even have to have winter. Or why we chose to move to a country that is cold almost all the time. I’ve tried to immerse myself in a bit of winter activity to help me appreciate the season… like ice-skating (which ended up with me leaving a scar on Steve’s shin) and tobogganing (which left me with a big head-ache and flu-like symptoms).

I haven’t tried skiing yet but my co-workers have heard me complain so much about the cold that they’ve pretty much agreed that I would not enjoy skiing because it is cold and wet and really difficult. I would like to try it sometime though. Just so I can say I’ve given it a try. And then maybe I can complain more after.

But yeah, this is me whining again about the winter that I can't seem to like.

Ironic!

Life just seems to so darn ironic sometimes...

• Whenever I have an appointment and I have to be somewhere for a specific time, I always feel as though public transit hatches this elaborate plan to make me late. Either the buses will be late or it will be driven by a driver who is moving at 40 kph (a person on rollerblades would probably be faster!). As if the slow moving buses aren’t enough of a nuisance already, there seems to always be someone getting off at EVERY ‘effin stop. So my usual bus ride of 10-15 minutes ends up taking twice as long! The trains will suddenly malfunction or some mechanical failure occurs and I’m stuck in a train in the middle of a tunnel. AND every person surrounding me seems to be moving at a much slower pace! There’s always someone either blocking my way or suddenly stopping at the top of the escalators as soon as they get off. Absolutely annoying.



• I always have plenty of change. In fact, too much that I find myself occasionally moving them to a different coin purse because they don’t fit in my wallet anymore. BUT ironically, the one time I actually need change is the one time I don’t have even a single penny with me.



• When I need a dress, a pair of jeans or shoes and I have the cash to spend, I can never find anything nice in the mall. When I don’t need it or when I don’t have the cash to spend, they’re everywhere… left, right and center.



• The one person I hope I don’t have to sit next to on the bus ironically chooses to sit beside me despite the many empty chairs.



• We have central heat in our condo which means that it is up to the super to turn on the heat during the cold months and turn it off during summer. Guess what? He keeps it off during the cool months and decides to turn it on as soon as the temperature warms up.



• When my calendar at work isn’t too hectic, none of our clients want training. They don’t even call or email. It’s just dead silent. BUT when I am swamped and my calendar is full and I barely have time to do anything, every client will call to ask for training or have some stupid question.



• We had a warm, sunny and beautiful summer. Too bad the weather was perfect during the weekdays when we had to be at work, trapped at our desks. But that’s not what’s ironic about it… the irony is that as soon as the weekend comes, it starts raining and it keeps raining until the weekend is over.

Christmas so soon already.

I happened to visit Jen’s page today and noticed that she had put on a countdown to Christmas widget. It said “71 days ‘till Christmas” and I thought to myself, “Really? Christmas is just 71 days away?”

Wow, time flies.

Personally, I find Christmas to be a bigger event in the Philippines than it is here in Canada. I think I’ve posted about this before, saying that it might be due to the fact that Canada is more diverse than the Philippines and not everyone here celebrates Christmas. I remember that back in the Philippines, as soon as the “ber” months arrive, Christmas songs and décor and lights start appearing everywhere. Filipinos truly are Christmas Fanatics. It’s the one event of the year (aside from Holy Week and New Year’s Eve) that the entire country makes preparations for so early on. We tend to put so much effort into making Christmas a truly memorable and fun occasion.

I miss celebrating Christmas in the Philippines. I swear you can almost smell it in the air back home. I miss Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Marie Chan’s Christmas carols and I miss driving through the Ayala Center admiring all the Christmas lights and décor. I miss watching Fireworks and I miss puto bongbong (did I spell it right?). I even miss the carolers constantly ringing our doorbell. Meron pang nandadaya na same group naman pero paisa-isang kumakatok sa gate para makarami sa pamasko. Di naman kumakanta!

I miss the exchange gifts and the family reunions and the Christmas parties. The Philippines may be a third world country but we sure know how to celebrate Christmas!

Twilight Movie New Trailer!

A new trailer for the upcoming Twilight movie has just been released. View it here.

I have to say it’s the best trailer yet and I am really anxious to see the movie. I almost died at the part where Bella and Edward kiss. I admit, I go bananas for the silliest of reasons.

Change of Plans.

Since Steve and I got engaged in May, we’ve spent a lot of time researching venues, invitations, florists, make-up artists, and favors. We had already ordered my wedding dress and the bridesmaid dress and have also put a down payment for the invitations and all we had to do was book our venue.

Then, we changed our minds.

We are now going to have a destination wedding instead. Crazy, right?

So that means that all that time we spent on looking and visiting venues was ultimately for nothing. The color scheme I’ve decided on and based the color of our bridesmaid’s dress on is also pointless. I could have easily gotten away with a blue or green color scheme but the venue we had originally wouldn’t have worked with it.

Thankfully, we haven’t printed the invitations yet so we can still change or design and wording and thankfully we haven’t booked anything else yet. I can still pull off the color scheme and we can still use the bridesmaid’s dress we ordered.

We are now looking at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and Dominican Republic as our wedding venue. After spending the past few weeks looking at Trip Advisor and different travel agencies, we’ve narrowed it down to the top three resorts we like. Our first choice is in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic while our second and third choices are located in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Now we just have to find the best rate we can get and work with the resort’s wedding coordinator to reserve the date.

There are so many details to still work on like the date of departure, the group rates, how to lock down prices for our guests coming from the states, and what information to include in the invitations and so on.

We know that not a lot of people will be able to make it because it costs a lot and that’s understandable. It’s just that we prefer to be married this way and have a blast with our guests, whoever can make it. We had a lot of reservations about having the wedding here in Canada but now that we’ve decided to go for a destination wedding, it just feels right.

Cheesy.

Is it just me or do celebs say the cheesiest and (sometimes) stupidest thing you’ve ever heard? Every time I glance at the gossip page of a newspaper or a website, I often grimace at the things that people say like “my love for (so and so) is so evolved and profound…” or “it’s like my heart is stretching…” or “it’s been great… he’s so awesome… it’s just been really, really fun… and we just love each other so much…”

Oh please. Normal people don’t say stuff like that. And even if some of us did utter a phrase or two that was as corny as that, we’d be made fun of in one way or another. It would come back to haunt us one day.

No wonder gossip magazines make fun of these people... they're just asking for it!